Steering device for articulated vehicle

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a steering device comprising a steering member for mutually steering a first vehicle unit and a second vehicle unit of an articulated vehicle which comprises a link mechanism for mutually pivoting said vehicle units, a housing configuration arranged to form a supply space between said vehicle units and a removal mechanism arranged in the supply space, wherein the removal mechanism comprises a heating device arranged to heat air intended to stream through the housing configuration. The invention also relates to an articulated vehicle with a steering member.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/006,953, filed Nov. 26, 2013, which is a U.S.National Phase patent application of PCT/SE2012/050301, filed Mar. 19,2012, which claims priority to Swedish Patent Application No. 1150257-2,filed Mar. 23, 2011, each of which is hereby incorporated by referencein the present disclosure in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a steering device for an articulated vehicleaccording to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to anarticulated vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART

Steering members for articulated vehicle, particularly articulatedtracked vehicle, comprising a front vehicle unit and a rear vehicle unitsteerably interconnected by means of the steering member are known. Thefront and rear vehicle units are interconnected over a link mechanism ofthe steering member comprising link shafts about which both vehicleunits are mutually pivotable by means of hydraulic cylinders.

WO 00/35735 discloses a steering member for an articulated vehicle beingconfigured in such a way that the vehicle units firstly may rotatemutually about a longitudinal, horizontal shaft, secondly pivot mutuallyabout two parallel, transversal horizontal shafts, and thirdly obtain animproved steering geometry with the vertical steering link situatedcentrally between the vehicle units.

Articulated vehicles with such steering member comprises a driveline foroperation of front and rear vehicle units, wherein the driveline isarranged to run from the front to the rear vehicle units in connectionto the steering member/through the steering member for drive of the rearvehicle unit. Further, according to a variant of such steering members,electricity, fuel, brake fluid and fluid for air-conditioning device arearranged to be transferred in conduits between the vehicle units inconnection to/through the steering device.

Due to the fact that the steering member is exposed between the vehicleunits it constitutes a weak point of the articulated vehicle. A problemwith such a steering member is consequently that it is subjected toexternal impact, e.g. effective fire in a war situation, such that e.g.the steering of the vehicle or other sensitive function such as braking,drive function, electricity is put out of operation.

RU2206859 discloses a steering member for mutually steering a first anda second vehicle unit of an articulated vehicle. The steering membercomprises a self-supporting house configuration in the shape of a tunnelarranged to form a supply space for protecting crew during transport ofammunition between the vehicle units. Such a housing configuration needsto be relatively large and consequently requires a lot of material whichresults in the steering member becoming relatively heavy whereinpropulsion of the vehicle correspondingly requires relatively muchenergy. Further the accessibility is impaired among others in softterrain due to weight and size.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a steering device foran articulated vehicle which improves the reliability during drive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects, apparent from the following description, areachieved by a steering device for an articulated vehicle and anarticulated vehicle, which are of the type stated by way of introductionand which in addition exhibits the features recited in thecharacterising clause of the appended claims 1 and 13. Preferredembodiments of the steering device are defined in appended dependentclaims 2-12 and 14.

According to the invention the objects are achieved by a steering devicecomprising a steering member for mutually steering a first vehicle unitand a second vehicle unit of an articulated vehicle comprising means formutually pivot said vehicle units, wherein the steering device comprisesa housing configuration arranged to form a supply space between saidvehicle units, comprising means arranged for removal of stuff in thesupply space incoming from the surrounding. Hereby the risk of stuff inthe housing configuration affecting the steering is avoided/reduced,wherein the reliability thus is improved.

According to an embodiment of the steering device said means comprises aheating device arranged to heat air intended to stream through thehousing configuration. Hereby removal of snow and/or ice introduced fromthe surrounding if facilitated through heating of said snow/ice by meansof the air streaming through the housing configuration and/or preventionof ice formation in that the space is kept warm by means of the airstreaming through the housing configuration. Thereby the risk of snowand/or ice in the housing configuration affecting the steering isavoided/reduced, wherein the reliability thus is improved.

According to an embodiment of the steering device said means comprisesan air intake arranged in a vehicle unit, a radiator arranged downstreamof the air intake, wherein air heated by means of heat exchangedownstream of the radiator is arranged to stream through the housingconfiguration.

According to an embodiment of the steering device air intake andradiator are arranged in connection to the first vehicle unit, whichconstitutes the front vehicle unit. Hereby efficient stream of airthrough the housing configuration during drive is obtained.

According to an embodiment of the steering device the housingconfiguration comprises several air outlets. Hereby efficient heating ofthe space is obtained in that the air is spread over the space inaccordance with the placement of the air outlets.

According to an embodiment of the steering device said steering membercomprises an essentially vertical link shaft about which said vehicleunits are pivotable. Hereby easy and efficient pivoting of the vehicleunits is facilitated. According to an embodiment of the steering devicesaid means for mutually pivoting said vehicle units comprises a firstand second steering element. Hereby efficient steering of the vehicle isobtained in that the steering is facilitated by two steering elements.The steering elements are preferably constituted by steering cylinderswhich preferably are hydraulic.

According to an embodiment of the steering device said means comprisesthe bottom part of the housing configuration, which comprises twomutually movable protective elements arranged to, in a non-pivotingstate of the vehicle, partly overlap each other, and, in a pivotablestate of the vehicle, provide a drainage opening of the bottom part.Hereby removal of stuff such as rocks, gravel or the correspondingintroduced from the surrounding is facilitated. Thereby is avoided thatrocks, gravel or the corresponding in the housing configuration affectsthe steering and drive shaft through the steering device, wherein thereliability is thus improved.

According to an embodiment of the steering device said protectiveelements are mutually pivotable about said vertical link shaft. Hereby asimple overlapping sealing and drainage opening during pivot of saidvehicle about the link shaft is facilitated.

According to an embodiment of the steering device said housingconfiguration constitutes a separate unit. Hereby easy upgrade ofexisting vehicles is facilitated in that the steering device isconfigured to be attached to the existing vehicle.

According to an embodiment of the steering device said housingconfiguration has a tunnel configuration. Hereby easy lead-through ofsupply means such as drive means, brake fluid, hydraulics, cardan shaftetc. is facilitated.

According to an embodiment of the steering device said housingconfiguration has ballistic protection properties. Hereby protectionagainst effective fire is obtained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon thereference to the following detailed description when read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters referto like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a side view of an articulated vehiclewith a protection device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a plan view of a part of thearticulated vehicle in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a cross sectional view from the side ofa part of an articulated vehicle with a steering device according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a perspective view obliquely from aboveof a protection device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a perspective view obliquely from belowof the protection device in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a side view of the protection device inFIG. 4;

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a plan view from above of the steeringdevice in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a plan view from below of the steeringdevice in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a plan view from below of a part of ahousing configuration of the steering device in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With supply space is herein intended a space of the vehicle throughwhich supply means such as cables for electric supply, hose for fuelsupply, cardan shaft for drive supply of transmission to the secondvehicle unit of the articulated vehicle, conduit for cold/hot water forair-conditioning device, and/or conduit for brake fluid for supply ofbrakes of the articulated vehicle may be transported.

FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically illustrates a side view and a plan viewrespectively of an articulated vehicle 1, here articulated trackedvehicle comprising a first front vehicle unit 2 and a second rearvehicle unit 3. The articulated vehicle 1 comprises a steering device Iaccording to the present invention. The steering device I comprises asteering member 10 for mutually steering the first and second vehicleunits 2, 3 of the articulated vehicle 1.

The first and second vehicle units 2, 3 of the articulated vehicle 1 areconsequently steerably interconnected by means of the steering device I.the articulated vehicle 1 comprises an air intake 5 arranged to receiveair L from the surrounding. The vehicle further comprises a radiator 6arranged downstream of the air intake for cooling components in thevehicle 1. The air L heated downstream of the radiator 6 is arranged tostream through a housing configuration 50 of the steering device I.

The housing configuration 50 is arranged to form a supply space Sbetween said vehicle units 2, 3. The housing configuration 50 isarranged to form a protection about at least a part of the steeringmember 10. The housing configuration 50 consequently forms a protectedspace in which at least a part of the steering member 10 is arranged.The steering device I comprises means for removing stuff introduced fromthe surrounding, said stuff according to an embodiment comprising snowand/or ice. Said means for removing stuff within the housingconfiguration 50 comprises a heating device arranged to stream air fromthe radiator 6 of the vehicle 1 through the housing configuration forheating.

Said heating device comprises the air intake 5 arranged in the firstvehicle unit 2 and the radiator 6 arranged in the vehicle downstream ofthe air intake 5 to cool components in the vehicle by means of saidthrough the air intake 5 received air L, wherein air L heated throughheat exchange downstream of the radiator 6 is arranged to be streamedthrough the housing configuration 50 such that it heats on and inconnection to the steering member 10 in the housing configuration 50.The air L is according to a variant arranged to be let out throughopening in the housing configuration.

FIG. 3-9 schematically illustrate different views and details of aprotection device I for mutually steering a first vehicle unit 2 and asecond vehicle unit 3 of an articulated vehicle 1, e.g. according toFIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Thesteering device I comprises a steering member 10 for mutually steeringthe first vehicle unit 2 and the second vehicle unit 3, and a housingconfiguration 50 arranged to surroundingly protect the vehicle 10.

As is evident from FIG. 3 the articulated vehicle 1 comprises an airintake 5 arranged in the upper portion of the front vehicle unit 2, anda radiator 6 arranged in the front vehicle unit 2 downstream of the airintake 5 to cool in the vehicle by means of said through the air intake5 received air L, wherein air L heated through heat exchange is arrangedto be streamed through the housing configuration 50.

The air is arranged to stream in through the air intake 5 and furthervia the radiator 6 in an air stream path 8, wherein the heated air L isarranged to stream into the housing configuration 50 and out throughopenings of the housing configuration 50 constituting air outlets. Theair intake 5 and the radiator 6 constitute a heating device.

Hereby is facilitated to remove snow and/or ice introduced from thesurrounding by heating it by means of the heated air L being arranged tostream through the housing configuration 50. Further, building of ice isprevented in that the space is kept warm by means of the air streamingthrough the housing configuration 50. Hereby the risk of snow and/or icein the housing configuration 50 affecting the steering isavoided/reduced, wherein the reliability thus is improved.

The steering member 10 of the steering device I comprises a frontfastening member 12 arranged to be assembled at the first vehicle unit2. According to this embodiment the first vehicle unit 2 constitutes thefront vehicle unit 2, wherein the front fastening member 12 is intendedto be arranged on the rear end of the first front vehicle unit 2.

The steering member 10 further comprises a rear fastening member 14arranged to be assembled at the second vehicle unit 3, whichconsequently here constitutes the rear vehicle unit 3 such that the rearfastening member 12 is intended to be arranged at the front end of therear vehicle unit 3.

The steering member 10 comprises an essentially vertical link shaft Aabout which said vehicle units 2, 3 are pivotable.

The front fastening member 12 is intended for fixed non-rotationalassembling at the rear end of the front vehicle unit 2. The fasteningmember comprises a number of fasteners 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, 12 d. The frontfastening member 12 has an essentially X-shaped configuration whereinopenings are formed for said supply means.

The steering member 10 further comprises a front steering link 16 whichis pivotably connected to said front fastening member 12 about a firsttransversal horizontal shaft B.

The rear fastening member 14 is intended for assembling at the front endof the rear vehicle unit 3. The rear fastening member 14 is arranged toallow rotation relative to the rear vehicle unit 3.

The steering device 10 further comprises a rear steering link 18 whichis rotatably connected to said rear fastening member 14 about alongitudinal shaft, i.e. rotatably journalled in bearings for allowingby means of the steering member 10 different side inclination positionsof the front and rear vehicle units 2, 3.

The rear steering link 18 is pivotably connected to said rear fasteningmember 14 about a second transversal horizontal shaft C.

The front and rear steering link 16, 18 are articulately connected toeach other over a steering link with the vertical link shaft A, thefront and rear steering link 16, 18 forming a steering link unit 20.

The steering member 10 further comprises a front tilt cylinder unit 22and a rear tilt cylinder unit 24 as is evident from FIG. 3. Therespective tilt cylinder unit 22, 24 comprises a cylinder part 22 a, 24a and a piston rod part 22 b, 24 b. The respective tilt cylinder unit22, 24 is according to an embodiment a hydraulic tilt cylinder unit 22,24.

The front fastening member 12 is articulately connected to the upperportion with an end area of said tilt cylinder unit 22 about a thirdtransversal horizontal shaft D wherein an opposite end area of the fronttilt cylinder unit 22 is articulately connected in the upper portion ofthe steering link unit 20.

The rear fastening member 14 is articulately connected in the upperportion to an end area of said rear tilt cylinder unit 24 about a fourthtransversal horizontal shaft E parallel to the third shaft D wherein anopposite end area of the rear tilt cylinder unit 24 is articulatelyconnected in the upper portion of the steering link unit 20.

The steering member 10 further comprises first and second steeringelements in the shape of a first and second steering cylinder unit 30,32 arranged to mutually swing said first and second vehicle unit 2, 3about the link shaft A. The respective steering cylinder unit 30, 32 isin its one end area connected to the front steering link 12 at therespective vertical link shafts F, G. The respective steering cylinderunit is in its other end area connected to the rear steering link at therespective vertical link shaft H, I.

The respective steering cylinder unit 30, 32 comprises a cylinder part30 a, 32 a and a piston rod part 30 b, 32 b arranged to move in thecylinder part 30 a, 32 a. The steering cylinder units 30, 32 arearranged to co-operate in such a way that when one of the piston rodparts 30 b, 32 b is retracted in its cylinder part 30 a, 32 a, the otherpiston rod part 32 b, 30 b is projected out of its cylinder part 32 a,30 a. Hereby the allied vehicle units 2, 3 are brought to be steeredeither to the left or to the right about the vertical link shaft A.According to this embodiment said steering cylinder units 30, 32 arehydraulic.

The four parallel transversal horizontal shafts B, C, D, E of thesteering device I facilitates for the steering device I and thereby theallied vehicle units 2, 3 to perform vertical pivotal and linkmovements, wherein the horizontal shafts B, C, D, E may constitute linkshafts in a parallelogram, such that the steering links 12, 14 andthereby the vehicle units 2, 3, also may perform mutual movements in thevertical direction.

The steering device I further comprises said housing configuration 50arranged to form a supply space S between the first and second vehicleunits 2, 3. The housing configuration 50 is arranged in such a way thatthe steering cylinder units 30, 32 and also the tilt cylinder units 22,24 essentially are surrounded such that they are protected from outerdamage such as effective fire.

The housing configuration 50 has ballistic protection properties.

The steering device further comprises hoses 40 from the front vehicleunit 2 to the rear vehicle unit 3 for supply of the heating system inthe rear vehicle unit 3.

The housing configuration 50 comprises a front protection elementarranged in connection to the front fastening member 12. The frontprotection element comprises a first protection element part 52 aarranged to run along one side around to the underside and covering apart of the front side. The front protection element further comprises asecond protection element part 52 b opposite to the first protectionelement part 52 a arranged to run along the other side around to theunderside and covering a part of the front side. The front protectionelement comprises an intermediate protection element part 52 c arrangedon the underside between the first and second protection element part ofthe front protection element.

The housing configuration 50 further comprises front side protectionelements 54 a, 54 b, 55 a, 55 b arranged on each side in connection tothe front steering link. Said front side protection elements compriserespective outer protection element parts 54 a, 54 b and innerprotection element parts 55 a, 55 b at least partly overlapping eachother.

The inner protection part 55 a is fixedly connected to the steeringcylinder unit 30 and will consequently pivot with the steering cylinderunit 30. The inner protection element part 55 b is connected to thesteering cylinder unit 32 and will consequently pivot with the steeringcylinder unit 32.

The space between the outer and inner protection element parts formsopening for air outlet of the air streaming through the air intake viathe radiator.

15

The housing configuration 50 further comprises a rear protection element56 arranged in connection to the rear fastening member 14. The rearprotection element comprises a first protection element portion 56 aarranged to run along one side and a second protection element portion56 b arranged to run along the opposite side, and an intermediate upperprotection element portion 56 c between the first and second protectionelement portions, said protection element portions 56 a, 56 b, 56 cbeing constituted by one piece.

The housing configuration 50 further comprises first and second rearside protection elements 58 a, 58 b arranged on each side in connectionto the rear steering link. The rear side protection element 58 a ispivotably journalled at the shaft H and the rear side protection element58 b is pivotably journalled at the shaft I.

The steering device comprises guide members 70 a, 70 b arranged inconnection to the respective inner protection element part 55 a, 55 band rear side protection element 58 a 58 b. The respective rear sideprotection element 58 a, 58 b is connected to the respective guidemember, wherein the respective guide member is arranged to retain therespective rear side protection element 58 a, 58 b along the side bypreventing them from swivelling out, and wherein the respective guidemember 70 a, 70 allows the respective rear protection element to moverelative to the respective inner protection element part in thelongitudinal direction of the steering member.

The housing configuration further comprises a rear upper protectionelement 59 arranged on the upper side intermediate to the rear sideprotection elements 58 a, 58 b to protectively cover the rear steeringlink 18 and the rear tilt cylinder unit 24.

The housing configuration further comprises third and fourth rear sideprotection elements 58 c, 58 d partly projecting from the side.

The housing configuration 50 further comprises a front under protectionelement 60 arranged on the underside of the steering member pivotableabout the vertical link shaft A in connection to the front steering link16.

The housing configuration 50 further comprises a rear under protectionelement 62 arranged on the underside of the steering member pivotableabout the vertical link shaft A in connection to the rear steering link18.

The front under protection element 60 and the rear under protectionelement 62 are consequently pivotably arranged about the vertical linkshaft A. the front and rear under protection element 60, 62 areconsequently mutually movable relative to each other.

The front and rear under protection element 60, 62 are arranged to, in anon-pivoting state of the vehicle partly sealingly overlap each other,and in a pivotable state of the vehicle providing a drainage opening Oof the bottom part. FIG. 8 shows the front and rear under protectionelements 60, 62 in a non-pivoting state and FIG. 9 shows the front andrear under protection elements 60, 62 in a pivoting state. Hereby isfacilitated to, in the pivoting state, drainage the vehicle of incomingstuff such as gravel and rocks in that the stuff is allowed to fall outthrough the drainage opening O provided between the front and rear underprotection element 60, 62.

As is evident from FIG. 3 the front vehicle unit has in the rear portiona hood like casing 64 which is arranged to protectively cover the frontfastening member 12, the front steering link 16 and the front tiltcylinder unit 22.

The housing configuration 50 has a telescopic function in that thehousing configuration 50 comprises protection elements/protectionelement parts 55 a, 55 b, 58 a, 58 b arranged on each side thereofpartly on each other and slidably relative to each other. Hereby saidprotection elements/protection element parts arranged slidably relativeto each other are arranged such that when the vehicle units pivotsrelative to each other about the link shaft A the protection elements onone side slides together such that they cover more of each other and theprotection elements on the opposite side slides apart such that theycover less of each other. Hereby a more fully covering protection evenby pivoting of the vehicle units relative to each other is obtained.

The housing configuration comprises a number of air outlets formedthrough openings between the above mentioned protection element andprotection element parts for air outlet of the air L streaming throughthe air intake via the radiator such that the streaming air among othersis let out through the side and downward.

The steering member of the steering device I above comprises first andsecond steering elements arranged to mutually pivot said vehicle units,said steering elements being constituted by steering cylinder units withcylinder and piston, which steering cylinder units are hydraulic.

Any suitable steering element could alternatively be used. According toan embodiment the steering elements of the steering member describedabove are constituted by gear rack elements. According to an embodimentthe steering elements of the steering member described above areconstituted by a linear motor, which according to a variant is built upwith a ball screw and a ball nut which is arranged to run along the ballscrew, wherein the nut is arranged to be moved by rotating the ballscrew by means of an electric motor or hydraulic motor or thecorresponding.

The steering cylinder units of the steering vehicle described above arearranged such that they are protected by the housing configuration 50.According to an alternative embodiment of the steering device I saidsteering elements are arranged such that they are protected by one ofthe vehicle units, according to a variant internally to one of thevehicle units, according to another variant under one of the vehicleunits.

The steering member describe above comprises tilt elements, said tiltelements being constituted by tilt cylinder units with cylinder andpiston rod, which tilt cylinder units are hydraulic.

Any suitable tilt elements could alternatively be used. According to anembodiment the tilt elements of the steering member described above areconstituted by gear rack elements. According to an embodiment the tiltelements of the steering member described above of are constituted by alinear motor, which according to a variant is built up with a ball screwand a ball nut which is arranged to run along the ball screw, whereinthe nut is arranged to be moved by rotating the ball screw by means ofan electric motor or hydraulic motor or the corresponding.

Above a steering device with a steering member for mutually steering afirst vehicle unit and a second vehicle unit of an articulated vehicle,the steering member comprising an essentially vertical link shaft aboutwhich said vehicle units are pivotable, first and second steeringelements in the shape of hydraulic steering cylinders arranged tomutually pivot said vehicle units, wherein the steering device comprisesa housing configuration arranged to form a supply space between saidvehicle units. Any suitable steering member with a housing configurationarranged to form a supply space between said vehicle units, comprisingmeans arranged for removal of stuff introduced in the supply space fromthe surrounding, said means comprising a heating device arranged to heatair intended to stream through the housing configuration such thatsnow/ice introduced into the housing configuration may bereduced/eliminated by means of the hot streaming air.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention has been provided for the purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modificationsand variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical applications, therebyenabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited tothe particular use contemplated.

1. A steering device comprising: a steering member for mutually steeringa first vehicle unit and a second vehicle unit of an articulated vehiclewhich comprises a link mechanism for mutually pivoting said vehicleunits a housing configuration arranged to form a supply space betweensaid vehicle units, and a removal mechanism in the supply space (S),wherein the removal mechanism comprises a heating device arranged toheat air streaming through the housing configuration.
 2. (canceled) 3.The steering device of claim 1, wherein the removal mechanism comprisesan air intake arranged in a vehicle unit, a radiator arranged downstreamof the air intake, wherein air heated by means of heat exchangedownstream of the radiator is arranged to stream through the housingconfiguration.
 4. The steering device of claim 3, wherein air intake andradiator are arranged in connection to the first vehicle unit, whichconstitutes the front vehicle unit.
 5. The steering device of claim 1,wherein the housing configuration comprises several air outlets.
 6. Thesteering device of claim 1, wherein said steering member comprises anessentially vertical link shaft about which said vehicle units arepivotable.
 7. The steering device of claim 1, wherein said linkmechanism for mutually pivoting said vehicle units comprises a first andsecond steering element. 8-9. (canceled)
 10. The steering device ofclaim 1, wherein said housing configuration constitutes a separate unit.11. The steering device of claim 1, wherein said housing configurationhas a tunnel configuration.
 12. The steering device of claim 1, whereinsaid housing configuration has ballistic protection properties.
 13. Thearticulated vehicle comprising a steering device of claim
 1. 14. Thearticulated vehicle of claim 13, wherein said articulated vehicle is atracked vehicle.